Humanitarian Logistics
What does HL involve correct answers Processes of planning, implementing and controlling the
efficient, cost effective flow and storage of goods/materials as well as related information
applied to a disaster context.
Disasters correct answers A disruption that physically affects a system and threatens its priorities
and goals
Natural Disaster correct answers Earthquake, famine, hurrican
Man-Made Disaster correct answers Terrorist attack, political crisis
Suddent-onset correct answers earthquake
Slow-onset correct answers famine
Flow on finances, goods and information in HL correct answers Orgs give info to donors and
suppliers, goods to beneficiaries and finance to suppliers. Donors give goods/finance to orgs.
Suppliers give goods/info to orgs.
Three humanitarian principles correct answers Humanity, neutrality, impartiality
Humanity correct answers human suffering should be relieved wherever found, purpose of HL is
to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings
Neutrality correct answers Relief should be provided without bias or affiliation to a party in
conflict
Impartiality correct answers Assistance should be provided without discrimination and with
priority given to the most urgent needs
Humanitarian Space correct answers In a physical sense is a zone where HL and civilians are
protected from violence. In a virtual sense HS represents the different interactions that take place
Classical humanitarian position correct answers Will adhere to all principles and will assist
regardless of consequences (this is a weakness of the strategy)
Damage limitation position correct answers Will avoid doing harm in the process of providing
assistance and protection, may compromise on neutrality replaced with political objectives
Conflict transformation position correct answers Use of humanitarian action to promote peace
only
Aid for victory position correct answers Use of HL to secure the victory of one side, doesn't
adhere to any of the principles
Levels of influence correct answers Local, National, International
Different types of consent correct answers Pure (Willing and Able), Pressure (Unwilling and
able), Enforced (Unwilling but unable), Capacity building required (Willing but unable)
The four disaster management phases correct answers Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and
Rehabilitation
Mitigation correct answers Possible source(s) of crisis are assessed, and set of activities to
minimize and/or eliminate those sources are identified, hence crisis never occurs or its impact is
minimized.
Ex: Japan and Turkey had same magnitude earthquakes, but while 25K people lost their life in
Turkey, only 12 people died in Japan.
Preparation correct answers Involves activities that prepare the community to respond when a
disaster occurs.
Ex: Facility location planning, crisis response plan, and training.
, Response correct answers Set of immediate actions taken after a crisis happens. It targets to
minimize/reduce the impact of disaster on affected people and economic by utilizing the plans
created during the preparedness stage.
Rehabilitation correct answers Rehabilitation or reconfiguration. The objective of recovery state
is to support all involved parties until they resume their normal operations.
Six principles of SCM correct answers Information visibility, Coordination, professionalism,
accountability, agility and planning of logistics network
Information Visibility correct answers info about what, when and where items can be obtained.
Requires regular reporting to public, media, aid agencies and donors
Coordination correct answers Conflicting objectives due to multiple parties, logistics can be
controlled locally causing lack of transparency/accountability
Professionalism correct answers Too many aid orgs with logistics only as a support function,
high turnover rate difficult to deploy experienced logisticians
Accountability correct answers affects future donations, difficult to trace how each contribution
is used
Agility correct answers quick/effective transshipment to affected area needed
The viscous cycle of logistics correct answers Lacking of understanding to no inclusion of
logistics in planning to basic logistics requirements not met to "fire fighting" mentality
prevailing to managers see logistics struggling to managers conclude not to include logistics and
then repeat
Main challenges of HL correct answers Time pressure (high uncertainty, high staff turnover, too
many stakeholders), Media (love-hate relationship), Donors (private donors want to know
exactly, in-kind difficult, intense competition)
Characteristics of funds correct answers Size, speed, fluctuation/predictability and flexibility
Source of Funding correct answers Half of international assistance from government donors go
first to 6 UN agencies, NGO's receive 18% of humanitarian assistance
Major activities in preparedness phase correct answers Establishing community volunteer
groups, budgeting, acquiring vehicles/equipment/stockpiling and maintaining emergency
supplies, emergency logistical planning
Important statistics on preparedness phase correct answers Every dollar spent in this phase save
$7 in aftermath, Humanitarians spend 1% of total international aid of this phase, phase is
described mostly as propositioning of essential non-food aid items in disaster prone states.
Strategies used in this phase correct answers Supply preparation, Manpower preparation and
Partner preparation
Supply preparation correct answers Importance of pre-positioning and funding, supplier
agreements are crucial
Manpower preparation correct answers existing staff assigned to development programs, former
staff are hired, roster for staff and personal diversification rather than specialization
Partner preparation correct answers Important tasks in the last mile delivery, difficult to find
suitable ones, local partners normally weak on capabilities, also consider local governments
Challenges in this phase correct answers - Materials (boxes): Right goods at right place at right
time, unsolicited donations may become a burden
- Information (bytes): Very limited, critical to understand on specific areas, important to design
effective supply chain
- Funds (bucks): difficult to find in this phase as low media exposure and liquidity is important
- People (bodies): Getting trained staff to disaster areas not easy and possibility of exhaustion
What does HL involve correct answers Processes of planning, implementing and controlling the
efficient, cost effective flow and storage of goods/materials as well as related information
applied to a disaster context.
Disasters correct answers A disruption that physically affects a system and threatens its priorities
and goals
Natural Disaster correct answers Earthquake, famine, hurrican
Man-Made Disaster correct answers Terrorist attack, political crisis
Suddent-onset correct answers earthquake
Slow-onset correct answers famine
Flow on finances, goods and information in HL correct answers Orgs give info to donors and
suppliers, goods to beneficiaries and finance to suppliers. Donors give goods/finance to orgs.
Suppliers give goods/info to orgs.
Three humanitarian principles correct answers Humanity, neutrality, impartiality
Humanity correct answers human suffering should be relieved wherever found, purpose of HL is
to protect life and health and ensure respect for human beings
Neutrality correct answers Relief should be provided without bias or affiliation to a party in
conflict
Impartiality correct answers Assistance should be provided without discrimination and with
priority given to the most urgent needs
Humanitarian Space correct answers In a physical sense is a zone where HL and civilians are
protected from violence. In a virtual sense HS represents the different interactions that take place
Classical humanitarian position correct answers Will adhere to all principles and will assist
regardless of consequences (this is a weakness of the strategy)
Damage limitation position correct answers Will avoid doing harm in the process of providing
assistance and protection, may compromise on neutrality replaced with political objectives
Conflict transformation position correct answers Use of humanitarian action to promote peace
only
Aid for victory position correct answers Use of HL to secure the victory of one side, doesn't
adhere to any of the principles
Levels of influence correct answers Local, National, International
Different types of consent correct answers Pure (Willing and Able), Pressure (Unwilling and
able), Enforced (Unwilling but unable), Capacity building required (Willing but unable)
The four disaster management phases correct answers Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and
Rehabilitation
Mitigation correct answers Possible source(s) of crisis are assessed, and set of activities to
minimize and/or eliminate those sources are identified, hence crisis never occurs or its impact is
minimized.
Ex: Japan and Turkey had same magnitude earthquakes, but while 25K people lost their life in
Turkey, only 12 people died in Japan.
Preparation correct answers Involves activities that prepare the community to respond when a
disaster occurs.
Ex: Facility location planning, crisis response plan, and training.
, Response correct answers Set of immediate actions taken after a crisis happens. It targets to
minimize/reduce the impact of disaster on affected people and economic by utilizing the plans
created during the preparedness stage.
Rehabilitation correct answers Rehabilitation or reconfiguration. The objective of recovery state
is to support all involved parties until they resume their normal operations.
Six principles of SCM correct answers Information visibility, Coordination, professionalism,
accountability, agility and planning of logistics network
Information Visibility correct answers info about what, when and where items can be obtained.
Requires regular reporting to public, media, aid agencies and donors
Coordination correct answers Conflicting objectives due to multiple parties, logistics can be
controlled locally causing lack of transparency/accountability
Professionalism correct answers Too many aid orgs with logistics only as a support function,
high turnover rate difficult to deploy experienced logisticians
Accountability correct answers affects future donations, difficult to trace how each contribution
is used
Agility correct answers quick/effective transshipment to affected area needed
The viscous cycle of logistics correct answers Lacking of understanding to no inclusion of
logistics in planning to basic logistics requirements not met to "fire fighting" mentality
prevailing to managers see logistics struggling to managers conclude not to include logistics and
then repeat
Main challenges of HL correct answers Time pressure (high uncertainty, high staff turnover, too
many stakeholders), Media (love-hate relationship), Donors (private donors want to know
exactly, in-kind difficult, intense competition)
Characteristics of funds correct answers Size, speed, fluctuation/predictability and flexibility
Source of Funding correct answers Half of international assistance from government donors go
first to 6 UN agencies, NGO's receive 18% of humanitarian assistance
Major activities in preparedness phase correct answers Establishing community volunteer
groups, budgeting, acquiring vehicles/equipment/stockpiling and maintaining emergency
supplies, emergency logistical planning
Important statistics on preparedness phase correct answers Every dollar spent in this phase save
$7 in aftermath, Humanitarians spend 1% of total international aid of this phase, phase is
described mostly as propositioning of essential non-food aid items in disaster prone states.
Strategies used in this phase correct answers Supply preparation, Manpower preparation and
Partner preparation
Supply preparation correct answers Importance of pre-positioning and funding, supplier
agreements are crucial
Manpower preparation correct answers existing staff assigned to development programs, former
staff are hired, roster for staff and personal diversification rather than specialization
Partner preparation correct answers Important tasks in the last mile delivery, difficult to find
suitable ones, local partners normally weak on capabilities, also consider local governments
Challenges in this phase correct answers - Materials (boxes): Right goods at right place at right
time, unsolicited donations may become a burden
- Information (bytes): Very limited, critical to understand on specific areas, important to design
effective supply chain
- Funds (bucks): difficult to find in this phase as low media exposure and liquidity is important
- People (bodies): Getting trained staff to disaster areas not easy and possibility of exhaustion
